Expansible cuff button



Nov. z5; 1924. 1,516,852

F. GWILLIAM EXPANS IBLE CUFF BUTTON Filed' Feb. l5 1924 /TTDFWEY- Patented Nov. 25, 1924.

UNITE@ STA IES PAINT FFCE.

FRANK GWILLIAM, 0F NORTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

EXPANSIBLE CUFF BTTON.

Application med February 13, 1924.

Norton, county of Bristol, State of Massa` chusetts, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Expansible Cuff1 Buttons, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

The invention relates to a new and useful improvement in cuff7 links. In order to widen the hand passage through the cuff for putting the shirt on and off and to allow the cuffs to be rolled back without removing the links, separable links have come much into vogue. One objection to many of the separable links is that after some time the connection between the two members becomes so worn or the spring catch becomes so weakened that the two members are apt to become separated when they are intended to remain connected. Another objection is that when the two members are unconnected they are liable to be lost. The object of the present invention is to provide a button or link having two heads and an expansible connecting shank or post which permanently connects the two heads but which is expansible to allow the two heads to be more widely spread apart from each other and thereby permit the cuff to be opened more widely for the passage of the hand in putting the shirt on and off.

The invention will be fully understood from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, and the novel features thereof will be pointed out and clearly defined in the claims at the close of this specification.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is a side elevation of a button embodying the invention showing the parts in normal position with its shank in its contracted form.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation showing the button shank expanded.

. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section of the un expanded button on line 3-3, Fig. l.

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section of the expanded button on line 4-4, Fig. 2.

Referring now to the drawings: There are shown at A and B the two heads of the button. The head A has a tubular post member l secured thereto by soldering or otherwise as will be well understood. This Serial No. 692,613.

tubular member l is of the length of the normal distance between the two heads A and B when the link is uneXpanded, as shown in Figs. l and 3.

The head B has a tubular post 2 secured thereto, said post being preferably equal in length to the tubular member l although not necessarily as long. It is of smaller diameter than the member l so that the smaller member 2 may be telescoped into the larger member. For the purpose of the invention only two telescopic members are required but three give still greater expansibility. An intermediate tubular member 3 Ais preferably provided which in size is also intermediate the two members l and 2 so that the member 2 may telescope into the member 3 and the member 3 may telescope into the member l.

In order to prevent the tubular members from becoming separated from each other after they are, assembled and also to form seats for the springs, as will be hereinafter described, the tubular member 3 isr formed with an annular lip or iange t which eX- tends radially outward from the end which slides in the member 1 and the member 2 is formed with an outer annular lip or fiange 5 at the end which slides in the member 3, the two flanges 4 and 5 having a sliding fit respectively in the tubular members l and 3. The parts will be assembled thus far be- .ya

fore the outer ends of the members l and 3 respectively are crimped in. While the tubular members are in assembled relation and before the outer ends are crimped, annular spiral springs 6 and 7 are inserted respec- The springs are normally inex whichhas a sliding fit on the outer periphery of the tubular member Band the member 3 is crimped at one end to form an annular lip 9 which has a sliding fit on the outer periphery of the tubular member 2. The lip 8 forms a seat for the outer end of the spring 6 and the lip 9 forms a seat for the outer end of the spring 7.

The springs 6 and 7 are normally in eX- panded form and retain the tubular mem bers in closed position all telescoped together, as shown in Figs. l and 3.

When it is desired to expand the link so as to move the two heads A and B farther away from each other, the said heads may be readily moved apart by grasping the two heads and pulling them in opposite directions. This will open out the telescoped members, thereby contracting the springs, as shown in Fig. 4, and if this is done while the two heads are engaged with the two buttonholes in opposite sides of a culi, it will open out the cuff. When the spreading pressure. on the two heads A and B is released, the springs will expand and close the tubular members or' the button into each other again.

The springs should be or' suicient power to normally retain the tubular members in closed telescopic relation and yet should yield readily enough so that by simply thrusting the hand through the cu opening, as in the act of putting a' shirt on and olf, the lateral pressure oi' the hand if it fits closely in the culi'l as it is drawn through will be sufficient to spread open the link without necessitating the actual manipulation of the two heads of the button by the lingers.

It is obvious that the number ot telescopic members may be more or less as desired. There must be at least two. Three are shown in the drawings as already described and there may be more than three if desired. The invention consists primarily in the use of a plurality of telescopic members to permit expansion and means for preventing accidental complete separation of the telescopic members from each other.

What I claim is:

l. A cuff link having two button members, tubular members permanently connected respectively with said button members, one of said tubular members being of smaller out side diameter than the inside diameter of the other of said tubular members, the smaller tubular member having at its inner end a lip extending radially outward and the larger tubular member having at its inner end a lip extending radially inward, a tubular member of intermediate size having telescopic connection with both of the other tubular members and having at one end an inwardly turned lip and at its other end an outwardly turned lip to cooperate respectively with the lips at the ends of the other tubular members, and coil springs in the spaces between the adjacent walls of the telescoping members which normally maintain the telescoping members closed, the tubular member which is of the largest diameter being of suflicient length so that when the parts are in normal closed position, the other tubular members will both be entirely enclosed within said larger member.

2. A cuff link having two button members, tubular members permanently connected re spectively with said button members, one of said tubular members being of smaller outside diameter than the inside diameter ot the other or' said tubular members, the smaller tubular member having at its inner end a lip extending radially outward and the larger tubular member having at its inner end a lip extending radially inward, a tubular member of intermediate size having telescopic connection with both of the other tubular members and having at one end an inwardly turned lip and at its other end an outwardly turned lip to cooperate respectively with the lips at the ends of the other tubular members, and coil springs in the spaces between the adjacent walls of the telescoping members which normally maintain the telescoping members closed, the tubular member which is of the largest diameter being of suilicient length so that when the parts are in normal closed position, the other tubular members will both be entirely enclosed within said larger member, the springs being compressed and putv under tension by spreading the button members further apart to expand the link.

3. An expansible culi link button having two button members and a connecting link comprising two tubular members connected respectively with the two button members and an intermediate tubular member, all of said tubular members having telescopic connection with each other and of such relative sizes that when the link is in its most contracted form, one of said tubular members will enclose the others, compression springs enclosed in annular spaces between the walls of the intermediate tubular member and each ot' the adjacent tubular members, said springs normally holding the tubular meinbers closed together and being compressed and put under tension when the link is expanded by opening out the telescopic members.

In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature.

FRANK GWILLIAM. 

